Nikon PictureProject

I noticed my D40 came with Nikon's PictureProject software for viewing and orgainzing photos, etc. Is that program worth installing or would I be better off using Picasa2 or Photoshop Elements?

John

I use it, from time to time. I find it easy to use, and most of the auto features are there, brightness control, d-lighting, sharpen, cropping, etc, but it does not have a histogram. It does not destroy your original file. Also, if you shoot raw, it actually uses your in-camera settings, unlike other raw conversion which leaves them out.

I use Picasa for my jpeg's, it works as well as Picture Project and much faster on my slow computer. However, it is useless for NEF's, so don't plan on using it for that. I'm using photoshop for my raw files, since they tend to be the more serious stuff anyway.
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My galleries, such as they may be...
http://www.pbase.com/cycle61

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phipop

i have also tried a little pictureproject, just to convert raw from d40x to jpeg. I noticed the jgeps are after bigger(5/5,8mo) than normal best quality jgeg from d40x.(4,5/5 mo). What does that means ? as i don't intend now to buy NX (150euros) or another expensive programs, is it worth shooting raw and convert thru pictureProject? will i be able later to do conversion with with NX?

i must admit it is a little complicated and i dont intend to spend too much time on computer, as it is my work. Is it really worth it?
i am very interested by help!
thanks a lot
philippe

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phipop
actually i didn't undersatnd that one :

Also, if you shoot raw, it actually uses your in-camera settings, unlike other raw conversion which leaves them out.

thanks
philippe

phipop said:

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phipop
actually i didn't undersatnd that one :

Also, if you shoot raw, it actually uses your in-camera settings,
unlike other raw conversion which leaves them out.

thanks
philippe

Click to expand...

When you shoot RAW then the camera still records all the in camera settings as though you were shooting JPEGS. The default action on Nikon S/W is when you open the files it applies the in camera settings to the image. This process is completely reversable in Nicon Capture ie you can change theose settings not too sure about PP.

Some software cannot read this information from the RAW file, although its all in the embedded JPEG and so you have to pp the file to get the image you want.

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Bluenose

jbravo104 said:

I noticed my D40 came with Nikon's PictureProject software for
viewing and orgainzing photos, etc. Is that program worth
installing or would I be better off using Picasa2 or Photoshop
Elements?

Click to expand...

1. I use PP for importing the photos from the card reader (changing the name), catalog and browsing my NEFs.

2. Then I use Capture NX to edit the NEFs.

3. If needed, I return to PP to browse and export some photos to JPEG (just click ctrl+J), to my zenfolio gallery, email or even make a small video/slide show.

As PP opens the (edited) NEFs, it is a good companion to Capture NX (this is a poor browser).

As a JPEG editor, PP is ok (no color management or histogram, though) and does not change the original file.

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Paulo Goulart
( http://goulart.zenfolio.com )

cycle61 said:

However, it is useless for NEF's,

Click to expand...

Actually I use Picasa2 and it can open my NEF files. Maybe you need to install PictureProject so Picasa2 can use the camera profile from PP.

I don't use NX either, but I use RT (Raw Therapee) , a freeware, which is quite good raw editor.
http://www.rawtherapee.com/usman.html

I also use GIMP which is a very good editor with all kinds of PP tools, including clone tool.
http://www.gimp.org/

I normally open my NEF files, do all the pp's there, and if I need the clone tool, I go to GIMP.